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Norman pair practice patience, hard work

Diana Miller and Matias Menis have been married only four years, but already they've learned a lot about what it takes to maintain a successful partnership.

Matias Menis and Diana Miller sit with their children Valentin, 3, and Isabella, 11 months, at their home in Norman, OK, Friday, March 11, 2011. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman

"We're not the perfect couple," said Miller, 24, "but we manage to love each other, understand and have a lot of patience."

That last one is important, since she and Menis, 31, spend nearly every moment together — running their own business from a home office while raising two children: son Valentin, 3, and daughter Isabella, who turned 1 on April 1.

"With two babies, it gets crazy," Miller said.

The couple met while working at El Nacional, a Spanish newspaper in Oklahoma City. Menis worked in the editorial department, and Miller, who was then a college student, took a part-time sales job.

When they met, there was instant attraction. Menis played it cool at first, but when Miller switched jobs and became a writer, they couldn't resist anymore. They became a secret couple, hiding their romance because Menis was technically her boss.

"It was kind of sad at first," Miller said. "I'd see him and want to hug him, but I couldn't. It was rough."

Six months into the relationship, they decided to get married. Even that was complicated.

Menis is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He'd come to St. Gregory's University in Shawnee on a soccer scholarship. He'd intended to return home after improving his English, but he decided to stay, moving from Shawnee to Oklahoma City after four years.

Miller was born in Oklahoma but spent 17 years living in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. Her mother and sisters were living in Oklahoma when she and Menis decided to get married, but there were cultural barriers.
"Argentinean people are well-known for being stuck up and cocky," Miller said. "Among Spanish (speakers), that's how we see them. ... One day he asked my mom for permission to marry me, and my family, they were all in shock.

"At first they were outraged. They didn't like him very much, but as they got to know him, they realized that he wasn't cocky at all.